In a region long beleaguered by cycles of conflict, diplomatic friction, and elusive peace deals, the United States has decided it’s time to show up—at least symbolically. This week, in a move that signals a recalibrated interest in East Africa’s precarious stability, U.S. presidential adviser Massad Boulos paid a high-profile visit to Kigali, the Rwandan capital, where he held talks with President Paul Kagame. The meeting, underscoring what Boulos described as Washington’s “unwavering commitment to East Africa’s peace and stability,” comes at a time when the region faces what many are calling a slow-burning geopolitical emergency.
At the heart of the conversation was the deteriorating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a conflict that has long dragged regional players into a dangerous entanglement of militias, resource competition, and proxy politics. The spotlight, this time, is on the M23 rebel group—a name that conjures uneasy memories in the DRC and beyond. The rebel outfit, which has resurfaced with surprising force in recent years, is widely believed to be supported by Rwanda, a charge Kigali routinely denies with diplomatic finesse and increasingly tired talking points.
Nonetheless, international observers, including the United Nations and several rights organizations, maintain that Rwanda’s fingerprints are all over M23’s resurgence. Boulos’s trip to Kigali is seen as an effort to address this growing perception, not through coercive diplomacy, but via a subtler kind of engagement: nudging Kagame toward restraint while avoiding the kind of open criticism that could unravel decades of carefully curated U.S.-Rwanda relations.
The U.S. visit comes amid a broader rethinking of American policy in Africa. While Washington has historically concentrated its efforts in West Africa and the Sahel—often through the lens of counterterrorism—East Africa has recently climbed the strategic priority ladder. The presence of Chinese infrastructure projects, Russian mercenary activity, and rising anti-Western sentiment in parts of the continent have prompted U.S. policymakers to recalibrate their presence in the region. If Boulos’s Kigali stop is any indication, that recalibration now includes closer scrutiny of East Africa’s simmering tensions.
But the United States isn’t exactly charging in with boots on the ground or chequebooks flying. Instead, the approach has been cautiously diplomatic—urging restraint, supporting dialogue, and offering to act as a bridge between adversaries. In Kigali, Boulos emphasized the need for “inclusive political solutions” and expressed U.S. support for regional mediation efforts, particularly those led by the East African Community (EAC) and Angola. Whether these efforts will bear fruit is, however, an open question.
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The Congolese government has shown little patience for what it sees as the international community’s passive stance. In Kinshasa, officials have been vocal in their frustration, repeatedly accusing Rwanda of violating its sovereignty and demanding a more forceful global response. The Congolese army, meanwhile, has been on the offensive, battling M23 fighters across several towns in North Kivu. Civilian displacement continues to surge, and humanitarian organizations warn that the region could face another catastrophic crisis if the conflict is not addressed urgently.
For Kagame, the American visit offers a delicate balancing act. Rwanda has long positioned itself as a model of post-conflict recovery, good governance, and regional influence, while at the same time being accused of exporting instability across its western border. Kagame, a former rebel leader himself, is acutely aware of the power dynamics in the Great Lakes region and has often leveraged Rwanda’s military prowess and disciplined image to assert influence. With Boulos’s visit, the message is clear: Rwanda may be admired in Washington’s security circles, but there are limits to that admiration when regional peace is on the line.
Yet for all the diplomatic smiles and formal handshakes, skeptics remain wary. Critics argue that unless the U.S. takes a firmer stand—by conditioning aid, applying sanctions, or using its clout at the United Nations—words will amount to little more than symbolic diplomacy. The visit may buy time and goodwill, but the risk of escalation in the eastern DRC remains. As one regional analyst put it, “You don’t douse a fire by standing next to it with a glass of water and a kind word.” Still, Boulos’s visit does mark a shift, however modest, in Washington’s engagement with the region. In a part of the world where international actors often seem reactive at best, the symbolism of a White House adviser flying to Kigali should not be dismissed entirely. It may be a toe in the water, but in East Africa’s turbulent tide, even small ripples matter.
